Brighton Speedway's 2018 Season Begins This Weekend!

BRIGHTON, ON (March 9, 2018)- With the 50th Anniversary hangover wearing off, it is time to get back to business.

We are ramping up for the 51st season of racing on the 1/3rd mile clay oval and it all begins this weekend in Toronto for the Annual Motorama show!

Brighton Speedway will be on hand at the annual show displaying the cars of 2017 Champions #57 Charlie Sandercock and #87 of Andrew Hennessy. Available this weekend will be the 2018 schedule filled with twenty-four action packed events from April till September, highlighting our weekly divisions consisting of the Vanderlaan Building Supplies Late Models, OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bill’s Johns Comp 4 and the Quinte Septic Stingers!

The first dirt flying night will happen on April 28th with the annual Coca Cola Season Opener. Fans can enjoy a night of racing for just two toonie’s ($4) and a donation to the Brighton Fare Share Food Bank. This event is one of the biggest food drives the Brighton Food Bank has all year and continues to grow each season.

The Southern Ontario Sprints will make Brighton Speedway a regular stop once again on their 2018 schedule with a total of six races at the Lake Ontario Oval. They will kick off the SOS season on Victoria Day weekend on May 19th, returning again on June 16th, July 7th, July 28th and twice during their Annual Southern Ontario Sprints Labour Day Weekend Classic for a double header of Sprint Cars on Saturday September 1st and Sunday September 2nd! Labour Day Sunday is also known as Topless Night around the oval as three divisions will compete without their lids; Brighton Speedway Late Models and Canadian Modifieds as well as the Simon Petit Memorial Wingless Sprint Car Dash.

June is a month not to miss featuring not only the SOS sprints for die hard race fans but for the casual fans that like to add a bit of variety and excitement to their Saturday night, June is the month for you! June 2nd features the first visit of the Workman OK Tire School Bus Races and then on June 9th the Gord’s Water Vantastics hit the track for the first of their two events on the 1/3rd mile. If that wasn’t enough the Summer Smash Monster Truck showdown will be held on June 23rd when Overkill Evolution and Black Stallion invade the speedway and then the annual Canada Day Championships featuring time trials, extra distance races and double points will close out the busy month on Saturday June 30th.

What began as our 50th anniversary celebration night in 2017 will continue in 2018 as the nostalgia night on Saturday, July 14th. We will honor legends of Brighton Speedways past with our Wall of Fame inductions as well as host classes from the past such as the Eastern Ontario Vintage Modified racers and the OSCAAR Hot Rod Racers.

2018 marks the dawn of a couple new touring series to the Speedway. The Action Sprint tour which features GM Crate powered full-fledged sprint cars will hit the 1/3rd of a mile clay oval on August 18th. Brighton Speedway Pro Stock veteran Brandon Murrell will try to defend home turf in this new series as he transitions into sprint cars. Also new for 2018 is the Northeast Late Model Alliance. The NLMA is a group of northeast dirt tracks trying to better promote Dirt Late Model Racing. The NLMA format will be based off the similar Duel on the Dirt format that has been super successful in the Thunder Stock ranks and the local promoters have high hopes for this new mini-series. NLMA dates at Brighton Speedway will take place during the Friday and Saturday nights of the Applefest Shootout.

Champions will be crowned on Saturday September 8th when the final points night of the season is complete! The night is also host to the Annual John’s Equipment Danny Reid Memorial 50 Lap Race for Canadian Modifieds paying $2,000 to win! #57 Charlie Sandercock claimed the coveted Silver Piston trophy and prize money in 2017 but there will be many drivers wanting to get their name on the trophy for 2018!

The Annual Applefest Shootout Weekend returns to Brighton Speedway in 2018, an event that is now in its 14th year continues to grow with record crowds and drawing over 300 cars from all over Ontario, Quebec, and New York competing over the two days in 2018. Overflow pit area and camping has been required in the last few years attesting to the success of the weekend and plans are in the works to expand this even further this upcoming September. The 2018 version of the event will kick off on Friday September 21st featuring DIRTcar Sportsman Super Dirt Series Race I, NLMA Late Model Series Race, Eastern Ontario Vintage Classic, Comp 4 Special 25 lap Open event and Thunder Stocks. Saturday marks the return of the mighty 358 DIRTcar Modifieds with the 75 Lap 358 Modified Applefest Shootout! Dirtcar Sportsman Series Race II, NLMA Series 50 Lap Great Crate Race for Late Models as well as the Canadian Modified / UMP Show Down!

The season will then close out Sunday, September 30th with the fan favourite; Lange and Fetter Ford Eve of Destruction and Workman OK Tire School Bus Races! This day of fun and excitement entertains fans of all ages with a wide range of car smashing, trailer wrecking and a long jump event. The day’s events include the Hotch’s Auto Parts 100 Lap Monster Enduro Race, a Youth Enduro, Ladies Enduro, Trailer Race, Flag Pole Race, Long Jump Competition, The Gauntlet and for the finale the Brighton Recycling Demo Derby! The event was literally a sell out last year so be sure to get there early to get a seat!

Angela, Mark, Diane and Lou Rinaldi would like to thank all the fans, crew members, drivers and sponsors that have helped make Brighton Speedway the success it is for the first 50 seasons and are excited for the 51st year of racing! Join us at the International Centre in Toronto for the Motorama Show and be the first to grab the 2017 schedule March 9th to 11th. Be sure to check out www.brightonspeedway.ca for complete details and latest news on the upcoming season!

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